Room 406, late Saturday night

[izzyalienqueen]

After getting back from Washingon, Isabel left a message for Wyatt, and stretched out on her bed. She was trying hard not to think about what could possibly go wrong in the morning but her mind kept offering up lots of worse case scenarios.

The door was open.

Comments

[intraspective]

Ino would be a piss-poor ninja if she couldn't track down someone's room number. And she had a few things to ask Isabel about after talking to Michael today.

No, she didn't care that it was late and Isabel might be sleeping. Finding the door open, Ino leaned against the door frame. "Isabel," she said, "can I talk to you?" Pause. "About Michael."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Isabel said, sitting up and motioning Ino in. "What's up? Is he okay?"

[intraspective]

"Define okay," Ino said darkly, slipping inside, "because I wouldn't call him 'okay' but yes, he was perfectly healthy when I left the diner this afternoon."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"In other words, he's Michael." But that Isabel understood exactly what Ino meant.

[intraspective]

Ino crossed her arms. "Did you know Michael doesn't think anyone needs him around?"

Yes, she was aware that this Isabel wasn't Michael's Isabel. Ino didn't care.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm not surprised," Isabel admitted carefully. "He's got some issues." Which was putting it mildly, but Isabel wasn't willing to say much more. Yet.

[intraspective]

"That if he died you and Max would move on and 'get over it'?" Ino continued, her voice taut with trying to keep it from rising, "That if someone's got to get the short end of the stick then it might as well be him because he's got no one?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That's a stupid idea." But sadly not surprising for Michael at this point in his life. "It's wrong. I know that. I'm hoping Fandom will change that."

[intraspective]

She stomped her foot. "It's unacceptable! He won't make things better for himself because he doesn't think it matters as long as you two are happy because you've got 'more to lose' than he does," her voice was starting to climb despite her efforts to stay calm, "and that's, that's shit."

"He's allowed to want things for himself!" She railed, "And, and have a white-picket fence and an SUV if he wants to, because he said he didn't but it sounded like he does, and he won't because he's scared and, and I don't know what to do about it!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Ino, I'm not arguing with you," Isabel said, her own voice raising a bit. "So don't yell at me. You're right. It's wrong that he feels that way. But things have happened, he's had to deal with things. It's made him feel that way. And it's going to take time and effort to change it."

[intraspective]

"I'm not yelling at you," Ino said, slightly miffed, because really she wasn't. Not compared to how she could be when she really go going. Still though... this was Michael's sister so she could probably be a bit nicer, or something. "Sorry." Whatever. She looked slightly helpless. "I don't know how to help him."

She couldn't just give him a ribbon like she'd done for Sakura years ago. And Ino was only fourteen.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel had a lot on her mind at the moment, things like ten year old girls in White Rooms, and worries that she could wind up joining them if things went wrong. She was bit tense and possibly a bit sensitive where Michael was concerned.

"Be his friend. That's what he needs the most." Ino wasn't Maria, but the mere fact that she was there, angry on Michael's behalf meant a lot. She'd be good for him.

[intraspective]

Her chin raised. "I'm already his friend," because otherwise she wouldn't be here, "but that's not going to be much use if all he doesn't learn to think of himself more. I think he's worth a lot, but it's like he doesn't believe me when I tell him that."

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt got Isabel's message and headed down to her room. He was a little worried since she had sounded serious on the phone. The door was open, so he walked right in. "Hey," he said. "What's up?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Too many things," she sighed, thinking of Jarod and Emily and Ino's visit and what she could do to help Michael. "Running away to the circus is sounding like a good career choice."

[blessed_twice]

"I hope you're thinking trapeze artist and not bearded lady," Wyatt said, sitting down on the bed. "What's wrong?"

This part NFB please.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel waved to shut the door, not wanting the squirrels to get an earful. "Don't be mad. But I'm doing something that's potentially dangerous tomorrow. So would stay by your phone in case I need saving?"

Re: This part NFB please.

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt eyed Isabel. "What do you mean, potentially dangerous?"

Re: This part NFB please.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Bad guys, White Rooms," said in a way that made the capital letters obvious. "And worst nightmares kind of dangerous," she admitted, drawing her knees up and resting her chin on them.

Re: This part NFB please.

[blessed_twice]

"If it's that dangerous, I'm going with you," Wyatt said firmly.

Re: This part NFB please.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You can't. Because this involves other people's secrets," Isabel tried to explain. "And the less people that know them. The safer everyone will be. We have a good plan. And everything goes right? We'll be in and out before they realize what's going on."

Re: This part NFB please.

[blessed_twice]

"What are you doing, and who are you going to be with?" Wyatt said. Whatever the mission was, it had to be necessary, he didn't doubt that.

Re: This part NFB please.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Bridge and Xander." A pause, "And Parker's driving the getaway care. She'll be the one to call you if the rescuers need rescuing."

Re: This part NFB please.

[blessed_twice]

"And they don't trust me?" Wyatt said. He may have been sulking, just a little bit.

Re: This part NFB please.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's nothing to do with trust." At least not on Parker's part. Jarod? He was a completely different story. "We're going to for stealth. And in all honesty? I like knowing you're the back-up. Because this place is scary. And if things were to go wrong. I want us out. And you're the only one that would be able to do it."